Koeman confirms six Everton men out for Merseyside derby

Everton manager Ronald Koeman has confirmed on the club’s official website that the Toffees will be without six first-team stars for Saturday’s Merseyside derby against Liverpool.

The bitter rivals meet at Anfield in the Premier League, with the visitors in need of all three points if they are to keep fleeting chances of a top-six finish alive.

The international break has been cruel on Everton, with a number of important players picking up knocks ahead of their return to club duty.

Seamus Coleman broke his leg playing for Republic of Ireland against Wales, while James McCarthy also picked up a hamstring strain while away with his country.

The pair joins long-term absentees Muhamed Besic and Yannick Bolasie on the treatment table, while two other stars will not feature against Liverpool.

Morgan Schneiderlin has not recovered in time to feature in the derby after he picked up a calf strain in the win over Hull City in the club’s last Premier League fixture, while Ramiro Funes Mori’s season also looks to be over after a knee injury.

Koeman confirmed that both players would need more time before their return to Everton colours.

“He is still not available for the weekend and I don’t think he will be available for the game against Manchester United on Tuesday, but we have good hope that he will be available for the Leicester game.

“Funes is not good. They checked him on Wednesday and we will have a second opinion on Monday – but we expect him to have surgery on the meniscus in his knee. That means that it would be the end of the season for him.”

Gareth McKnight is the editor of Ninety Minutes Online and a director of Mudcrab Media. An experienced online and print journalist, Gareth has worked for Goal.com, FourFourTwo, Soccerlens and countless other media sources over the years. He is from Northern Ireland but lives in Western Australia.

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